How Much Do Truck Drivers Make?

What truck and bus drivers earn, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 figures, and the CDL each job needs.

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A blue tractor-trailer on an empty interstate through high desert under a cloudy sky
Long haul Across the country on the interstates. Arne Hückelheim, CC BY-SA 3.0
A polished steel tanker on a highway through golden hills
Tankers Fuel, milk and chemicals, with the tank endorsement. Carlos ZGZ, CC0
A loaded logging truck coming down a winding road through forested hills
Logging Timber from the forest roads to the mills. Carol M. Highsmith, public domain
An empty car carrier trailer behind a black tractor, seen from above
Car haulers New cars from the factory to the dealer. Wikideas1, CC0
A tractor pulling three short trailers through a desert town, seen from above
Doubles and triples Two or three trailers behind one tractor, with the doubles and triples endorsement. Mark Holloway, CC BY 2.0
A truck hauling a wide load, seen in a side mirror on a curving highway
Oversize loads Wide and heavy loads, under special permits. born1945, CC BY 2.0
A school bus at dusk with its red lights flashing and stop arm out
School buses Students to school and home, with the school bus and passenger endorsements. NTSB, public domain
A motorcoach parked below a snowy mountain ridge
Motorcoaches Tours and intercity routes, with the passenger endorsement. Robert Rynerson, CC BY 2.0

Some photos cropped or edited.

How much do truck drivers make?

Half of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers made more than $58,640 a year in May 2025, or $28.19 an hour, and half made less. The lowest-paid tenth made under $40,140 and the top tenth over $79,380.

That’s across about 2.06 million drivers. Pay varies with the state and the kind of work.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, 53-3032).

Which states pay truck drivers the most?

Alaska, where half of truck drivers made more than $70,100. Louisiana paid least, at $49,320.

StateMedian pay
Alaska$70,100
Washington$64,760
District of Columbia$64,170
New Jersey$63,570
Massachusetts$63,030

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates.

What do bus drivers make?

Transit and intercity bus drivers earn about what truck drivers do. School bus drivers earn less an hour, and many work only the school year: the yearly figures are hourly pay over a full year (2,080 hours).

JobAn hourA yearJobs
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers$28.19$58,6402,062,040
Transit and intercity bus drivers$28.39$59,050159,240
School bus drivers$23.04$47,920402,930

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (53-3032, 53-3052 and 53-3051).

Which CDL do I need?

A Class A for a tractor-trailer or any combination over 26,000 pounds that tows more than 10,000. A Class B for a single truck or bus over 26,000 pounds, such as a dump truck or a city bus.

Endorsements add the rest: tank (N), doubles and triples (T), hazmat (H), passenger (P) and school bus (S).

49 CFR 383.91 and 383.93.

Get Your CDL

  1. Get your medical card: A DOT physical with an examiner on FMCSA’s registry.
  2. Pass the knowledge tests for your permit: General knowledge, air brakes if your vehicle has them, and combination for Class A.
  3. Finish entry-level driver training: With a provider on FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry.
  4. Pass the skills test: After holding your permit at least 14 days.

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